Automatic gun.



PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904.

C. PETERSEN.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1902.

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c. PETERSEN.

AUTOMATIC GUS. APPLIOATIOH 1711.21: mp! :1. 19oz. no MODEL. 4 sums-sum 3.

Fay/6. A 69 prmln VIII 1 No. 754,691. PATBNTED MAR. 15, 1904. c. PETERSEN.

AUTOMATIC GUN. y

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1902.

no 110mm. 7 4 SHEETSBEEET a.

'fii l ITNESSES: C

PATBNTED MAR. 15, 1904.

C. PETERSEN.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 21. 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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d4? V60 ATTZVEW WITNESSES 0% UNITED STATES PatentedMarch 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PETERSEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,691,1 aa March 15, 1904.

Application find July 21, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES PETERSEN, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Guns; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in firearms of the automatic type. Its object is to provide a gun which may be loaded and discharged continuously through the medium of the expanding gases in the barrel in contradistinction to automatic arms which depend for their continuous action on recoil.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts,,which will be more fully set forth hereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of-my gun. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal vertical section thereof and part elevation with'a wall of the receiver removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing hammer in cocked position. i Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on linen: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of elevator mechanism on line 3/ Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a top view of part of the breech.

, Fig. 7 shows the rear guide-block. Fig. 8

shows the front guide-block. Fig. 9 shows V the handle to operate. the breech mechanism manually. Fig. 10 shows the reciprocating lock-block. Fig. 11 shows the breech-bolt. Fi 12 shows, an arm which actuatesthe breech-bolt and lockblock. Fig. 13 shows the sliding bar which actuates the'cutters. Fig. 14 shows'asear. Fig. 15 shows the hammer. Fig. 16 shows'the upper guides-bar;

Fig. 17 shows the lower guidebar. Fig. 18

shows an elevator guide-plate. Fig. 1 9'shows a part of the elevator. Fig. 20 is a detail of the pneumatic mechanism. Fig. 2.1 is a plan of the cutters. Fig. 221s a vertical longitu dinal sectionalview through thebreech mechanism, showing the cartridge-carrier de-' pressed and the bolt thrownforward and the hammer released from the position'shown on Fig. 3. Fig. 23 is a plan view showing the relation of the eonveyer-bar 52and the'cutters- 5 A represents the stock; Q2, the walls of the by'means of screws 8 in the receiver rearward ofthe receiving-chamberand between which a locking-block 9, Fig. 10, for the breech-bolt 10, Fig. 11, reciprocates. The latter is slidable and guided in the block 7 and carries the firing-pin 11. The end of thebreech-bolt and the adjacent faces of the blocks 7 and 9 are correspondingly stepped, so that when the bolt is thrown forward and the block 9 is dropped the parts will be firmly locked together and the bolt held against recoil. The bolt has a cross-head 12 at its rear end 'slidable in a slot 13in the block 7. The ends of the crosshead project beyond the sides of the block and are engaged by arms 14, Fig. 12, which have their forward ends pivoted to a crosshead plate 15,'Fig. 13, which is secured on the end of a piston-rod 16, operating in the chamber ,17. This chamber is formed just below the barrel, and its rear end communicates with the barrel-chamber through a small passage 18. The rod 16 carries the piston 19, and the space on either side of. the piston is connected by a passage 20 through the piston. A valve 21 allows the gases. to pass from the barrelchamber into the space 17 behind the piston, but prevents its return through the passage 20; The piston-rod 16 operates through a plug22 outer end of the rod carries ainut 23, Fig. 20,

to which one end of a coil-spring24 is attached. This spring isincased in the chamber 25 and has itsother end suitably secured, as at 26.

The portion of the rod 16 that operates through the plug and extends into the spring-chamber is reduced in size. In the plug 22, surrounding the rod and extending parallel therewith,

are oneor more exhaust-valves 27, which have v their heads projecting within the compression{ chamber andtheir grooved stems prQ eeting;

into the spring-chamber, whereby the valves will be opened by reason of the nut 231strik-- ing their stems'when the spring is. expanded and will :be closed on the contraction of the spring by reason of a disk"16".on the stem I00 striking the heads of'the valves. The springand the movement of the valves are sufficient chamber 25 communicates with the open air through port 28. In operation the expanding gases in the barrel will immediately 'following discharge and before the projectile leaves the muzzle seek an outlet through the port 18. This will cause a compression in chamber 17 which will be immediately equalized in space 17 a by reason of gases passing through passage 20. As the bullet leaves the muzzle of the gun the confined gases in the barrel are immediately released, with a resulting inequality of pressures on piston 19. Accordingly valve 21 closes and thecompressed gases in 17 expand to drive piston 19 forward. The moment the valves 27 are opened, as before described, pressure in chamber 17 is released and the spring 24 retracts the piston,while the disk 16 closes the valves 27 and leaves the compression-chamber in readiness for the next charge of gas. The length of the valve-stems to prevent the valves being closed by pressure of the exhausting gases. This reciprocating movement of the rod 16, occasioned alternately by the expansion of the gases and the contraction of the spring 24, operates the loading, discharging, and reloading mechanism in the following manner: The movement of the piston toward the port 18 causes the arms 14 to simultaneously carry the breechbolt backward. The arms have the inclined surfaces 29, which ride under the correspondingly-inclined ledges 30, Fig. 10, of the lockblock 9 to lift the latter, which is secured to a spring 31, Fig. 6, normally lying in an inclined recess or channel on the top of and having one end secured to block 6. The lattersis slotted, as at 32, and suitably chambered to receive the cross-head 12 and end of the breech-bolt when the bolt is retracted to its full limit. The arms have the lateral projections 33, which engage the plate 4 to carry it backward to open the receiving-chamber and allow the shell to be ejected. The plate4 is slidable in guides on the sides of the rev when The breech-bolt carries the hammer 34, Fig. 15, with it on its rearward movement to a cocked position, where it is engaged and held by the notch 35 on the sears 36. There each of the arms 14 slides, and the end of each a sear has a projection 40 riding on the upper cam-surface 41 of each of the arms. The oscillation of the sear is therefore a positive movement dependent on and governed by the reciprocation of the arms 14.

The hammer 34, Fig. 15, is adapted to straddle the magazine-passage 42 and is pivoted-in the breech at 43. The head of the hammer is free to move in the'space between the blocks 6 and 7. The shorter arms of the hammer are to engage notches 49 on the ends of the hammer members. These dogs connect by means of the rods 50 with the trigger 51. Where a number of shots are to be fired in rapid succession, it will only be necessary to pull the trigger once and to hold the trigger, while the operation of dischargin'gand reloading will be entirely automatic. The curve of the surfaces 38, 39, and 41 is such that;the sears will be depressrd or raised suddenly at the end of each stroke of the breech-bolt to engage or release the hammer, while the latter will be free to sweep through the are on the underside of the sears, the latter being depressed by the shoulder 39 running up the steeper incline 38 at the moment the hammer is in position to be engaged in the notch 35 whenthe bolt is retracted to nearly its fullest extent, while the scars are raised to disengage the hammer when the bolt is thrown forward by reason of the projections 40 running up the steeper incline of 41. Simultaneously with the cocking of the hammer by engaging the notches 35 on the sears the dogs 47 engage the notches 49 on the hammer, so that the firing may .be controlled by the trigger, if desired.

The loading of the piece is effected by the following mechanism: The cross-head 15 on piston-rod l6 h as secured to it a feed or conveyer bar 52, Fig. 13, which is reciprocable in unison with the breech-bolt and moves between the bridge-plates, 53 and 54, Figs. 17 and 16. The latter plates are straddled by the hammer. The lower plate 53 is supported in the bottom of the receiver and has a tang portion 55, by whichjit is secured to the stock.

The plate 54 has an inclined or curved tang 53 and 54 open except at the rear for the free reciprocation of conveyer-bar 52. The ammunition is fed into the magazine 42 through an opening in the under side of the stock. The plate 54 is a continuation of the bottom of the magazine-channel. In the present instance I have shown the ammunition as'consisting of cartridges 57, connected together in a chain by means of fine wires 58. These wires are secured at one end in the projectile, and-the other embraces the rim of the shell, so that the cartridges are united in a chain and may be packed closely in a box end for end. The wire isof suflicien't elasticity and strength to admit of a string. of cartridges being inserted into the magazine 42, and by meansof the automatic devices to be described are drawn into the firing-chamber as rapidly as required. At the same time the wire is very soft "and walls of the receiver and the plates 52 53 54 can be easily severed. The chain may be of any length, so that the fire may be prosecuted without interruption. In operation one end,-

of the chain is inserted into the magazine-passage 42 and the cartridges pushed-forward bottom of the plate is slotted, as at 61, and

the spring-pressed fingers 62, pivoted on the rear end of bar 52, project up through these slots to engage the cartridge when the bar 52 is at its rearmost limit of travel to draw the cartridge forward into the receiving-chamber 3. These fingers are depressed on their rearward movement to pass beneath a cartridge. The lower ends of the fingers run in guidegrooves 63 in the plate 5 64, Fig. 21 and Fig. 4, represents the wire-cutters with their upper ends pivoted in the bottom of block 7 and their lower ends stepped in lugs 65 in plate 53. These cutters are adapted to open and close like a door as the bar-52 moves back and forth. They are disposed in the path of the cartridges and in the plane of the rear wall of the receiving-chamber, and the bar 52 is adapted to open them to admit a cartridge to the receiving-chamber and to close them behind the cartridge to cut the wire. The adjacent surfaces of the cutters are preferably made one convex and the other with a plurality of cutting edges 65, as shown in Fig. 21. The bar 52 is provided with the rear wardly-convergent cam-slot 66, in which ,the crank-arms 67 on the cutters are adapted to be engaged at about the moment the bar reaches the end of its forward stroke. The bar in its movement to and fro between the crank-arms 67 spreads the latter to open the cutters at all times except when the arms are drawn into the slots 66 by the lateral projections 68 on the bar. the receiving-chamber bythe bar 52 and fingers 62 the crank-arms 67 are engaged in the camslots 66 to close the door-cutters, and the wire is bitten off close to-the shell of the cartridge in the chamber and close to the projectile of the front cartridge in the magazine, and the short pieces of wire drop down through openings 69 70 in the respective bars 54 53 and the slot 71 in the bar 52 and outthrough the opening 72 in the bottom of the receiver. In the receiver the cartridge is deliveredupon the cartridge-carrier, by which it is lifted into al-i'nement with the breech-bolt. This cartridge-carrier consists of the vertically-slidable plates 73, Fig. 18, disposed between the and guided by the latter and are-pivoted to the knee-levers 74, operating in the space between the plates 73 and the receiver-walls. The'lower Just as the cartridge is drawn into arms of these levers are pivoted to the breech at 7 5. i The pivot-pin 78 at the joint of each knee-lever projects into and is movable in a trapezoidal slot 76 in a link 77, which is secured to the cross-head 15. The links 77 reciprocate. in unison with the latter and with the arms 14 and bar 52. The slots 76 allow the bar 52 and breech-bolt to be moved a considerable distance in eitherdirection while the cartridge-carrier remains stationary. The

guide-plates 73 are cutaway, as at 80, Fig. 18, v

to accommodate the lower arms of the levers 74.

Each of the plates 73 is slotted, as at 81, and

members 82, Fig. 19, are pivoted in these slots and project inwardly into the space between the guides to receive and support a .cartridge as it is drawn in from the magazine through the cu tter-doors. When the cartridge-carrier is normally at its lowest point, these supporting members or carriers 82 will lie against the inclined sides of the parts 52 54, as shown in Fig. 5; In that position they form a trough to receive and support the cartridge, and they retain that form as the carrieris lifted to bring the cartridge into line with the breech-bolt ready to be driven forward into the firingchamber of the barrel. Their tendency to approach each other is limited by reason of the shoulders 83 engaging corresponding ledges 84 on plates 7 3. Springs 85 serve, on the other hand; to throw them always toward each other, Fig. 5.

In operation assumev a cartridge to be in position in the.firing-chamber of the barrel, the. breech-bolt thrown forward and the hammer engaged by the dogs 47, ready for firing, a cartridge inv the receiving-chamber on the carriers 82, and a string of cartridges in position in the magazine. On pulling the trigger 51 discharge takes place, and the gases generated in the barrel will operate the piston, as before described. The movement of the cross-head 15 toward the butt of the gun carries with it the arms 14, bar 52, and links 77, and

they each operate their several mechanisms coordinately. Thearms 14 retract the bolt, open the slide 4, eject the shell by means of theejector 86 on topof the bolt, lift the lock-block 9,'carry the hammer back, and engage it in the notches 35 of the scars. Simultaneously the bar 52 moves back to the end of its stroke between the plates 53 and 54 and between the cutters 64 until the fingers 62 engage behind the next shell in the magazine. Al'sothe links 77 have moved the-- length of the slots 7 6z'.'e., till the pivot-pins 78 strike the front walls of the slots-before the cartridge-carrier starts to rise. This has given time enough for the retraction of the breech-bolt and the ejection of the shell. While the carrier is moving verticallyduring the remainder of the rearward movement of the links 77 the retraction of the breech-bolt is completed-so that no obstacle is interposed to the carrier or cartridge. Just as the ham carrier, which distance is sufficient to allow the breech-bolts to carry the cartridge well into the barrel to support it without further aid from the carrier. The bar 52 and fingers 62 draw a cartridge which is still connected with the chain forward through the open cutter-doors and partly into the receivingchamber and beneath the pivoted carriers 82 before the carrier starts to descend. At that moment the pivot-pins 7 8 strike the rear inclined walls of the slots 7 6 and trip the kneelevers to allow the carrier to descend, and the carriers 82 open to pass around the cartridge, the springs 85 causing them immediately to close again on the under side of the cartridge in readiness to lift it when required. The cutter-doors 64-are operated,.as before described, to sever the wire and leave the cartridge now in the receiving-chamber wholl y disconnected from the chain in the magazine. The arms 14 have raised the scars just as the bolt completes its forward travel across the receiving-chamber and has the cartridge lodged in the firing-chamber of the barrel. This leaves the hammer supported on the dogs 47, providing the trigger is released.

If the trigger has remained retracted, the dis charge of the gun would be automatically effected the moment the bolt is thrown forward, so that the arms 14: have lifted the sears to disengage the hammer from the notches 35. Thus Without further attention on the part of the operator than to pull the trigger and hold it in such position discharge, ejection, and reloading will continue automatically so long 'as there are cartridges in the magazine-channel. As the ammunition-chains may beof any length, they serve in lieu of special ammuni-' tion carriages or magazines. In loading the piece in the first place a cartridge is shoved into the magazine-channel until it is engaged by the spring-stops 59. An arm 87, Figs. 2 and 9, secured to the bar 52, projects out through the bottom of the receiver and is movable in the slot 88. By taking hold of a button 89 on this arm the loading mechanism may ina rifle, it is apparent that the same principles may be applied in guns of any character,

s'ize,-,orjcaliber.

By certain modifications m the magazine the piece could be adapted for use with ordi nary ammunition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i v 1. In an automatic gun, the combination of a barreha compression-chamber, a piston movable therein, a port opening between the barrel-chamber and one end of the compressionchamber, a valve in said piston through which gases may pass to equalize the pressure on opposite sides of the piston, a piston-rod extending through each end' of the compressionchamber, breech mechanism connecting-with one end of said rod and retracting means tending to operate in opposition to said controlling medium.

2. In an automaticfgun, the combination of a barrel, a compression-chamber, port connections between said chamber and the barrelchamber, a piston movable in the compression chamber, a valve in said piston through which the gases may pass to equalizethe pressure on opposite sides of the piston, a piston-rod extending through said-chamber, breech mechanism operated by one end of said piston-rod, a retracting-spring on the other end of said rod and exhaust-valves in said chamber operated by the movements .of the piston.

3. In an automatic gun, the combination with breech-loading mechanism of a barrel, a compression chamber, connections between the barrel and chamber whereby gases generated by discharge are admitted to said chamher, a piston movablein said chamber, a valve in the piston by which the pressure on opposite sides of said piston is equalized during the progress of the missile through the barrel and means by which the gases in the space on I one side of the piston are released eoincidently with the departure of the missile from the muzzle whereupon an inequality of pressure. on the opposite sides of the piston is effected to operate the latter.

4. In an automatic gun, the combination of a barrel, a compression-chamber, a port connecting said chamber and barrel, a piston movable in said chamber, a valve-controlled port connecting the ends of the chamber on opposite sides of the piston, a piston-rod extending through both ends of saidchamber, breech mechanism connecting with oneend of said rod, and retracting means on the other end thereof.

5. The combination in an automatic gun of by which the cartridge is lifted into line with the bolt when the latter is retracted, and connections between said bolt, cartridge-carrier and cross-head by which the said parts are operated coordinately.

6. The combination in an automatic gun of a compression chamber, a piston therein, means for admitting a propelling medium to move said piston, a piston-rod extending exterior to said chamber, a breech-bolt, a bar by which cartridges are fed into the receiving chamber of the breech, a carrier by which cartridges are conveyed into line with the breech-bolt when the latter is retracted, and connections between said bolt, bar and carrier and the end of said piston-rod whereby the said bolt, bar and carrier are moved to cooperate on each reciprocation of the piston.

7. The combination in an automatic gun, of a compression-chamber, a piston therein, a piston-rod, a cross-head on said rod exterior to the chamber, a reciprocating breech-bolt, a hammer adapted to be cocked by the rearward movement of the bolt, arms connecting said bolt and the cross-head of the piston-rod,

a bar connected with said cross-head and adapted to insert a cartridge into the receiving-chamber of the breech, a cartridge-car rier, slotted links secured to the said crosshead, and intermediate connections between said slotted links and carrier by which they latter is operated on the reciprocation of the piston.

8. The combinationin an automatic gun, of

acompression-chamber, a piston therein, a-piston-rod, a cross-head on said rod exterior to said chamber, a breech-bolt, a guide-block in which said bolt is slidable, a spring-pressed vertically-operating lock-block located in rear of said guide-block, pivoted sears, arms connecting said bolt and cross-head on the piston-rod, said arms having cam-surfaces engaging said sears to operate the latter, a sliding plate by which the top of the receiver is closed, projections on the-arms engaging said plate to move it simultaneously with the breech-bolt, a bifurcated hammer, means including a bar connected with the piston-rod cross-head by which a cartridge is 1 inserted into the receiving-chamber of the breech, a

vertically-movable cartridge-carrier, slotted llnks connected to said cross-head and knee- {evers intermediate of the carrier and said inks.

9. In a gun, the combination of a breechbolt, a vertically-operating cartridge-carrier,

arms connected with the bolt, toggle-levers having one member connected with the gunframe and the other with the carrier, means connecting said arms and levers whereby they are operable in unison, and means by which said bolt and carrier are moved successively at each movement of their respective arms and levers.

10. In a gun a breech mechanism including I a reciprocating breech-bolt, a bifurcated hammeradapted to be cocked by the bolt on 'its' breech, a cartridge-carrier, knee-levers hav-- ing'one member connected with the gunj frame andthe other with said carrierfjand connections between a sourceof power and said bolt-arms, feed-bar and knee-levers by which they are moved in unison. 1

11. In a gun, the combination of a breechf bolt, actuating-arms therefor, a verticallyf movable cartridge-carrier in the recei' ingchamber, knee-levers having one end pii'ote( l in the frame and the other to the carrier, slotted l-inks engaging said knee-levers, and con nections between the outer ends of said firstnamed arms and said links by which said arms and links may be moved in unison to operate the bolt and carrier in suitable relation to each other.

12. In a gun, the combination with the receiving-chamber thereof, of a horizontally-reciprocating breech-bolt, a vertically-movable cartridge-carrier, means including a horizontally-operating bar by which cartridgcsare drawn singly into the receh ing-ch amber, arms connecting with said breech-bolt, knee-levershaving one member pivoted to said carrier and the other member pivoted to the breech and means by which said arms, bar and knee- Ievers are given a coordinate movement.

13. In a gun, a breech mechanism, including a reciprocable' breech-bolt, a guide-block in which said bolt is slidable, a cross-head on said bolt, actuating-arms engaging said crosshe'ad,gas-operated means with which said arms are connected, a vertically-reciprocable cartridge-carrier and connections between said gas-operated means and carrier whereby the carrier and bolt are given a coordinate movement.

14. In a gun, a breech mechanism including a reciprocable breech-bolt, a cross-head thereon, arms engaging said cross-head, means by which said arms are actuated, a hammer, a pivotedsear with which said hammer is engaged to cock the piece, and connections between said sear and arms by which the sear is given a positive oscillating movement.

15. Ina gun, a breech mechanism, including a breech-bolt, arms connected with a source of power by. which the breech-bolt is actuated,

a hammer, pivoted sears adapted to be engaged said bolt, arms engaging said cross-head ex-' arms having projections engaging cam-surfaces of the sears whereby the latter are oscillated positively by the movement of the arms and breech-bolt.

17. In a gun, a breech mechanism including a reciprocable breech-bolt, a fixed guideblock in which said bolt is slidable, a fixed block rearward of said guide-block, a springpressed vertically-operating lock-block intermediate of-said fixed blocks, pivoted sears operable in relation to the movements of the bolt and a hammer adapted to be pressed back by the breech-bolt when the latter is retracted and engaged by said sears.

18. In agun, the combination of a reciprocable breech-bolt, guide and lock blocks therefor, a bifurcated hammer, actuating-arms for said bolt, means for operating said arms, pivoted sears having cam-surfaces-engaging corresponding cam-surfaces on said arms and means by which a cartridge is'introduced into tilt; receiving-chamber in line with the breechb0 t.

19. In a gun, the combination of a reciprocable breechbolt; guide and locking means therefor, a bifurcated hammer straddling the magazine, said hammer pivoted intermediate of its ends, links on the shorter arm of said hammer, springs engaging said links adapted to throw the hammer forward into engagement with the breech-bolt which carries the firing-pin, dogs engaging notches on said hammer to connections between said dogs and the trigger, actuating-arms for said bolt, means for operating said arms, sears engaging camsurfaces on said arms and having a positive oscillatory movement according as the bolt moves back and forth.

20. In a gun having a magazine-passage in the stock, a receiving-chamber, a horizontallyreciprocable breech-bolt, a vertically-movable cartridge-carrier in the receivingchamber, means by which a cartridge may be inserted into the receiver upon the carrier, and a hammer straddling the magazine passage and movable rearwardly with the movement of the breech-bolt. V

21. In a gun, havinga magazine-passage in the stock, a receiving chamber, a cartridgecarrier movable in said chamber, means by which a cartridge may be inserted into the receiving-chamber said carrier comprising vertically-operating guide-plates, and hinged supports on said plates, which are adapted to pass out and around a cartridge lying in the receiving-chamber when the carrier descends and to engage beneath the cartridge to raise the latter when the carrier is vlifted.

' 22. In a gun of the character described, the

combination with the receiving chamber 4 thereof, of a reciprocable breech-bolt, a horizontally-operating bar by which cartridges are drawn singly into the chamber, and hinged cutters actuated by said bar to sever a cartridge from a chain.

23.- In a gun of thecharacter described, the combination with the magazine and receivingchamber thereof,of means for retaining a chain of cartridges in the magazine, hinged cutterdoors disposed in said magazine, a r'ecip'rocating feed-bar operable between said doors by the said bar, and the hinged cutters in operative connection with said bar by which the cartridge is severed,

25. In a gun of the character described, the combination with a magazinemhamber adapted to receive a chain of cartridges of feed mechanism by which the cartridges may be delivered singly into the receiving-chamber and hinge-cutters operable by said feed mechan ism by which the cartridge may be severed from the rest of the chain.

h Inl witness whereof I have hereunto set my CHARLES PETERSEN.

Witnesses:

L. MEININGER, S. H. Norman. 

